Can-labeling machine.



G. E., KASTENGREN;

CAN LABELING MAGHINE.

APPLICATION FILED 11017.21, 1911.

Patented Nov; 12, 1912.

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(JAN LABELING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21. 1911.

Patented Nov. 12,1912.

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Patented Nov. 12, 1912.

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G. E. KASTENGREN.

' GAN LABELING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21. 1911. 1,044,393; Patented Nov. 12,1912.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

GUSTAVUS E. KASTENGBEN, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON, ASSIG-NOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOHN E. REYNOLDS AND WALTER S. GEARY, OF SEATTLE, WASHINGTON.

CAN-LABELING MACHINE.

1,tld4,393.

- of Washington, have invented new and useful Improvements in Can'Labeling Machines, of which the following is a. specification.

The invention relates to labeling machines, and more particularly to theclass of run-way labeling machines for labellng cans or other containers.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character in which the cans will travel in a runway, so as to pick up paste and labels, the cans, during travel, being prevented from crowding in the run-way, the labels being applied to the can bodies in a smooth and secure manner, whence the labeled cans are lowered which the labels will be supplied with the paste at one edge thereof, so as to fasten the overlapped edges of each label together on the wrapping of the same about the can, during the travel thereof through the runway, the labels being successively fed to the plane of the run-way to be picked up by each can passing through the run-way.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a machine of this character in which all of the parts thereof are automati-. cally controlled for the labeling of a plurality of cans successively, during the travel thereof through the run-way of the machine.

A. still further object of the invention is the provision of a machine which is simple in construction, reliable and efiicient in op eration, and inexpensive in manufacture.

Other objects will be in part obvious, and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly consist-s in the features of construction, combination of elements, and arrangement of parts which will be exemplified in the construction hereinafter set forth, and the scope of the appli cation of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the drawings: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 3 is a vertica longitu- Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 21, 1911.

Patented Nov. 12,1912.

Serial No. 661,515.

dinal sectional view through the machine. Fig. 4 is a fragmentary vertical transverse sectional View on the line 4L4= of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 5 a of Fig. 1. Fig. 6 is a sectional View on the line 66 of Fig. 1. Fig. 7 is a fragmentary enlarged sectional view through one of the paste reservoirs showing in detail the movable platform and operating arm. Fig. 8 is 'a fragmentary perspective view of one spring limb and label holding member operated upon thereby.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings by .i'nnnerals, the labeling machine comprises a forwardly inclined run-way, including spaced parallel vertical sides 10, between which is arranged atrack or bed 11 having a downwardly curved adjustable lower end 12 which will be termed the delivery end thereof, while the opposite end of the track or bed will be termed the feed end of the same, merely for the sake of convenience in describing the machine hereinafter.

The run-way is supported upon legs or props 13, and the sides 10, at the delivery end of the run-way, are formed with for- 'wardly bowed or arcuately shaped extensions 1 1, thesame joining supports 15 projectingat a forward inclination from the forward props or legs 13, andthese supports 15 are adapted to carry a discharge chute (not shown), so that the labeled cans, when delivered from the runway,will be conveyed by the chute to a convenient point for packing or handling thereof.

At a point intermediate the feed and delivery ends of the run-way, below the track or bed 11 between the sides 10, is mounted a label holding box 16 which mav be of the desired size, so as to receive the labels to be applied to the cans or other containers, traveling in the run-way, the said box 16, at I its top, opening through the track or bed 11 of the run-way, whereby the cans in gravitating in the run-way will pick up singly labels from the box 16 for applying such labels to the cans, in a manner presently described.

Arrangednear the feed end of the runway is an automatically controlled arrester, comprising a horizontally disposed rocking shaft 17, the same being journaled in the sides 10 of the runway, beneath the track or bed 11 thereof, and is formed with an arrester arm 18 which normally projects upwardly and rearwardly through a suitable opening formed in the track or bed 11 to engage with the cans, so as to impede or interrupt the travel of each can and the succeeding ones in the run-way. Also formed on the shaft 17 is a platen 19, which latter is adapted to rise above the track or bed 11, when the arrester arm 18 is being lowered below the track or bed, thereby permitting the can to pass the arrester arm 118 and engage theplaten 19, so that it will be momentarily held thereby in the run-way until the arrester arm 18 again swings into position for engaging the succeeding can, the shaft 17 being controlled, as hereinafter de-' scribed.

Journaled in the forward props or legs 13 is a shaft 20 supporting a gravitating arm 21, the same being formed at one end with a carrier 22, the same being adapted to swing to raised position, so as to intersect the open end of the run-wayfor receiving a labeled can, which, by its weight, will cause the lowering of the carrier 22 and its arm 21, whereby the can in the carrier will be discharged into the chute arranged between the supports 15, the arm 21 being provided at its opposite end with an adjustable counter-weight or pea 28, so that the said arm 21 will be caused to return to raised position on the discharge of the labeled can from the carrier 22 thereon, and thus assume a position to receive another labeled can, it

being understood, of course, that the operation is continuously repeated during the working of the machine, until all of the cans have been removed from the run-way.

, Pivot-ally connected with the arm 21 is a rod 24, thesame being also pivotally connected to a lever 25 formed on the shaft 17, so that upon the lowering of the arm 21 for the discharge of a labeled can from the carrier 22 thereon, the shaft 17 will be simultaneously rotated for the lowering of the arrester arm 18, and thereby permitting the travel of a can past the said arrester arm down the run-way, until such can is intercepted in its travel by the platen 19, which momentarily arrests the can until the arm 21 has become raised; thus the arrester arm 18 will engage and hold the succeeding can to prevent the travel of the same down the run-way with the previously liberated can. In this manner, the cans will be intermittently freed for descent in tl e run-way, as will be clearly obvious.

Mounted transversely in the sides 10 of the runway, below the track or bed 1.1, spaced from the arrester device, is a pair of supporting rods 26, with which engage the outturned hanger projections 27 of a removable paste reservoir 28, the same being of the required size and is adapted to contain liquid or semi-paste. Arranged transversely within the paste reservoir 28 is a, paste applying roller 29, the journaled ends 30 of which are rotatably mounted in the sides of the paste reservoir, so that the roller at its highest point will lie in a plane flush with the plane of the track or bed 11, the said track or bed being cut away to permit the cans traveling down the runway to contact with the roller, so as to collect paste therefrom, the paste being taken up by the roller 29 from the reservoir 28, during the rotation of the said paste applying roller.

Fixed to one of the journaled ends 30 of the paste applying roller 29 is a ratchet gear 31, the same being engaged by a rack bar 32 which is pivoted, as at 33, to an arm 31- formed integral with the rocking shaft 17, so that on the rocking of the shaft 17 the rack bar 32 will be reciprocated for intermittently rotating the paste applying roller 29, thereby presenting to each can descending in the run-way a fresh paste surface on the paste applying roller 29, whereby each can will be supplied with paste for the subsequent picking up of a label from the label box 16, during the descent of the can in the runway.

Arranged between the sides 10 of the runway, at the side of the paste reservoir 28 opposite the arresting device, is a movement retarding platen 35, the journal ends 3 thereof having their hearings in the sides 10 of the runway, one ournal end being formed with a lever 37, to which is pivotally connected a throw rod 38, the same being also connected to the lever 25, at the pivotal point of the rod 24: therewith, so that on the rocking of the lever 25, the said movement retarding platen 35 will be positioned so as to retard the travel of the can after cont-acting with the paste applying roller 29. Thus, in this manner the cans will be prevented from speeding too rapidly through the runway. Upon the lowering of the platen 35, the can held thereby will be released, so that it may gravitate along the runway to the label box for picking up a. label therefrom, during its travel.

Normally engaged with the uppermost label of a pack deposited within the label box 16, at its end directly toward the feed end of the machine, is a plurality of label holding fingers 39,the same projecting from a rocking shaft 40 journaled in the sides 10 of the runway, the said shaft 40 being formed with a medial forked lever 11, in which is pivoted one end of a link 42, the same being pivoted at its opposite end between ears 43 formed on a trip wing 4st pivoted, as at 45, in the sides 10 of the run way, the said wing being adapted to normally protrude above the track or bed 11. in the path of movement of the cans traveling in said runway, so that on the contact of a can with the wing a l, the latter will be caused to lower, thereby raising the fingers 39 from engagement with the uppermost label 46 of the pack in the label box 16, so that the said label 46 may be picked up and wrapped about the can, during its descent in the runway, the said wing 44 being returned to normal position by means of a coiled retractile spring 47, one end of which is fixed to one end wall of the label box 16, and its opposite end adjustably connected to an extension 48 formed on the wing 44, the wing being adapted to instantly elevate itself above the track or bed 11, when the can traveling in the runway passes off of the wing at onto the track or bed 11 in the runway, and thereby the label holding fingers 89 will engage the topmost label in the label box 16 to prevent the same from wrapping about the can with the label previously picked up by the latter, as will be obvious.

Connected to the forward or front end wall of the label box by means of pivots 4E9 are label holding members 50, through which are passed spring limbs 51 of a frame 52, the limbs 51 being engaged with the members 50 at points slightly elevated above the pivotal connections 49 of the same, so that upon depressing the limbs 51, the said holding members 50 will be raised out of engagement with the uppermost label of the pack within the box 16, thereby preventing the tearing of the label picked up by the can, and when the said members 50 are engaged with the label pack, the same will be sustained smooth and prevented from wrinkling within the label box. The spring limbs 51 of the frame 52 will lower the said holding members 50 into gripping position relative to the labels after the trip arms 52 have been freed. by the can on the passing of the latter thereover.

Pivoted to the sides 10 of the runway within the label box 16, near the forward end thereof, are trip arms 52, the samebeing provided with lugs 53 engaged with the spring limbs 51 of the frame 52, so that upon a can contacting with the arms 52,

the latter will become lowered, thereby de-- pressing the spring limbs 51 for elevating the holding members 50 to disengage the same from contact with the uppermost label 46 of the pack contained within the label box.

Arranged within the label box 16 is a follower plate 54, the same being fixed to a centrally located threaded stem 55 passed through a suitable bearing 56 mounted in the bottom of the label box 16, and engaging this threaded stem 55 is a ratchet wheel 57, which, upon the turning thereof, is adapted to move the follower plate upwardly within the label. box for advancing the labels con tained therein, whereby the uppermost label will lie within the plane of the track or bed 11 of the runway, the ratchet wheel 57 be ingengaged by a rack bar 58, the same being held in engagement with the ratchet wheel by means of a spring 59 and is adjustably pivoted to the lower end of a lever 60 which is also pivoted to a lever 62 connected with a slidable platform 61. The lever 60 has engaged therein the endsG-{L of an axle 63, which ends are adapted to travel in upwardly arched cam slots 65 formed in the sides 10 of the runway, forwardly of the label. box 16, so that the platform will move above the label box and overlap the same for a distance, on the sliding of the said platform in one direction, for a purpose pres-- ently described.

Forwardly of and contiguous to the front wall of the label box, immediately below the slidable platform 61, is a removable paste reservoir 66, the same being formed at one side with lugs 67 engaging stationary bearings 68 formed on the front wall of the label box 16,.while at the opposite side of the said paste reservoir 66 are formed outturned hangers 69 engaging a cross rod 70 removably placed in the sides 10 of the runway. Thus, it will be seen that the reservoir and paste roller may be removed at will for the cleaning thereof.

Disposed transversely within the paste: reservoir 66 is a paste applying roller 71, the journal 72 thereof having its bearings in the sides of the reservoir 66, the slidable platform 61 being provided with a resilient paste collecting block or pad 73, which is adapted to engage the peripheral surface vof the paste roller 71 for the accumulation of paste, so that on movement of the" platform-61 over the label box 16, the said pad or block 73 will contact and apply paste to one (edge of the uppermost label 4-6 in the label box, whereby on the wrapping of a label about a can, the edge of the said label containing the paste will. overlap the oppositeedge of said label and become pasted thereto, thereby securely fastening the label about the can. a

Fixed to the journal 72 of the paste applying roller '71is a ratchet wheel 74, the same being engaged by a gravitating ratchet pawl 75, loosely connected to the levers 62 supporting the slidable platform, the pawls being designed to engage with the ratchet wheel 74 when the sliding platform 61 is moved in a reverse direction, or in other words, forwardly of the machine, thereby turning the pasteroller 71 intermittently, so that a fresh paste surface of the roller will be presented to the resilient pad or block 73 which will collect the paste therefrom for the application of the same to the next succeeding label of the pack contained within the label box 16, after the uppermost label has been removed from the pack therein.

Disposed forwardly of the sliding platform 61 and intersecting the runway, is a trip platen 77, the same being supported by a pivot 78 journaled in depending rearwardly curved extensions 7 9 formed on the sides 10 of the runway. To the lower end of this trip platen 77 is pivotally connected a link 80, the same being also pivotally connected to the lever or arm 60 depending from the slidable platform 61. Thus, it will be seen that when the platen 77 is tripped by a can passing through the runway, the sliding platform will be actuated or moved toward the rear end of the machine, so that the said platform will rise above the label box 16, thereby permitting the paste accumulating pad or block 73 to apply paste to the edge of the uppermost label of the pack in the label box. To retract the platform 61, there is provided a coiled r-etractile spring 81, one end of which is connected to the lower end of the trip platen 7 7 while its opposite end is connected to one of the forward legs or props 13 of the machine. The arm or lever 60 depending from the platform 61 at its lower end, is pivoted, as at 82, to the extension 79, thereby permitting the said lever or arm 60 to rock upon the pivot 82 for moving the sliding platform 61, during the working of the machine. The adjustable forward end 12 of the track or bed 11 is regulated by means of a set screw 83 which is threaded in a cross bar 84 fixed to the sides 10 of the runway, so that this adjustable end 12 may be raised or lowered to increase or decrease the forward inclination thereof.

Pivoted in the paste reservoirs 28 and 66, respectively, are scraper blades 85. which contact with the paste applying rollers 29 and 71, so as to prevent excessive accumulation of paste upon the peripheries of said rollers, as the same are intermittently rotated.

Near the delivery end of the runway and rising from the sides 10 thereof are vertical guides 86, the same being arranged in diagonal relation to each other, and in slots 87 therein is disposed a slidable bar 88, one end of which is formed with an elongated aperture 89, through which is passed one limb of a bell-crank lever 90, the other arm of which is pivotally connected to an operat ing rod 91 which is also pivoted to the counter-balanced delivery arm 21. Thus, it will be seen that upon the raising or lowering of the said arm 21, the bell crank lever will be rocked, so as to reciprocate the bar 88 in the guides 86,-for a purpose presently described.

Fixed to the bar 88 and disposed transversely above the runway is a holding block 92, to one longitudinal edge of which is hinged a swinging pressure board 93, the latter being adapted to exert pressure against the labeled can 91-, when positioned below the same, so as to smooth the label thereon and securely seal it to the body of the said can, prior to the delivery of the can from the runway into the carrier 22 at the end of the said runway.

Located at the end of the runway is a rocking cradle 95, the same being mounted upon a fulcrum rod 96 ournaled in the sides 10 of the runway, and into this cradle is adapted to be received the labeled can subsequent to the sealing of the label thereto. The can 9 1-, when caught in the cradle 95, will be dumped into the carrier 22, when the arm 21 will lower the can to the chute supported between the supporting bars 15, below the delivery end of the runway. lVhen the cradle 95 has been tilted for the discharge of the can 91 into the carrier 22, the rear end of the cradle 95 will. form an abutment for the succeeding can rolling beneath the pressure board 93, which can is momentarily held in such position by means of a counter-weighted rocking stop device 97, the same being pivoted in the sides 10 of the runway and carries at one end an adjustable weight pea 98, while its opposite end is formed with a curved wing 99, the curvature of which corresponds with the curvature of the can, so that the latter will be arrested and prevented from moving rearwardly in the runway on the adjustable end 12 of the track or bed 11, during the operation of the pressure board 93, it being understood, of course, that when the can passes down the incline of the adjustable end of the runway, the stop device 97 on the contact of the can therewith will lower below the plane of the incline of the adjustable end 12, so as to permit the said can to pass the said stop device, and roll beneath the pressure board 93, whereby the latter may operate upon the labeled can for the sealing of the label thereto.

Formed on the fulcrum pivot 96 of the cradle 95 is a crank 100, to which is pivotally connected a rod 101, the same being also pivotally connected to the lower end of the platen 77, so that when the latter is tripped, the. cradle will be tilted or dumped for discharging the labeled can held therein into the carrier 22, whence the latter will lower for the discharge of the can therein onto the chute below the runway. The pressure board 93 is adjusted by means of set screws 102 which are'threaded in the holdingbloek 92 and engage the pressure board, as is clearly obvious.

that is claimed is:

1. In a labeling machine, a runway, a label holding box fixed in the runway, paste reservoirs detachably supported in the runway at opposite sides of the said. box, paste applying rollers arranged within the reservoirs, means for controlling movable objects upon the runway for automatically releasing the objects singly for travel over the label box, delivery means arranged at one end of the runway and adapted to lower the movable objects singly therefrom into a suitable chute, and connections between the said first and last named means.

2. In a labeling machine, a runway, a label holding box fixed in the runway, paste reservoirs detachably supported in the runway at opposite sides of the said box, paste applying rollers arranged within the reservoirs, means for controlling movable objects upon the runway for automatically releasing the objects singly for travel over the label box, delivery means arranged at one end of the runway and adapted to lower the movable objects singly therefrom into a suitable chute, connections between the said first and last-named means, and mechanism slidable alternately into contact with one of the paste applying rollers and the uppermost label contained within the label box for applying paste to such label.

3. In a labeling machine, a runway, a label holding box fixed in the runway, paste reservoirs detachably supported in the runway at opposite sides of the said box, paste applying rollers arranged within the reservoirs, means for controlling movable objects upon the runway for automatically releasing the objects singly for travel over the label box, delivery means arranged at one end of the runway and adapted to lower the movable objects singly therefrom into a suitable chute, connect-ions between the said first and last-named means, mechanismslidable alternately into contact with one of the paste applying rollers and the uppermost label contained within the label box for applying paste to such label, and trip means operating the last-named means and causing the rotation of the paste applying rollers.

4. In a labeling machine, a runway, a label holding box fixed in the runway, paste reservoirs detachablysupported in the runway at opposite sides of the said box, paste applying rollers arranged within the reservoirs, means for controlling movable objects upon the runway for automatically releasing the objects singly for travel over the label box, delivery means arranged at one end of the runway and adapted to lower the movable objects singly therefrom into a suitable chute, connections between the said first and last-named means, mechanism slidable alternately into contact with one of the paste applying rollers and the uppermost label contained within the label box for applying paste to such label, trip means operating the last-named means and causing the rotation of the paste applying rollers, a follower plate arranged within the label box, and means operated by the last-named means for feeding the follower plate upwardly within the label box.

5. In a labeling machine, a runway, a label holding box fixed in the runway, paste reservoirs detachably supported in the runway at opposite sides of the said box, paste applying rollers arranged within the reservoirs, means for controlling movable objects upon the runway for automatically releasing the objects singly for travel over the label box, delivery means arranged at one end of the runway and adapted to lower the movable objects singly therefrom into a suitable chute, connections between the said first and last-named means, mechanism slidable alternately into contact with one of the paste applying rollers and the uppermost label contained within the label box for applying paste to such label, trip means operating the lastnamed means and causing the rotation of the paste applying rollers, a follower plate arranged within the label box, means operated by the last-named means for feeding the follower plate upwardly within the label box, label holding devices engageable with the uppermost label contained within the label box, and trip devices connected with the label holding devices for releasing the same when the trip devices are engaged by the movable objects traveling in the runway.

6. In a labeling machine, a runway, a label holding box fixed in the runway, paste reservoirs detachably supported in the runway at opposite sides of the said box, paste applying rollers arranged within the reservoirs, means for controlling movable objects upon the runway for automatically releasing the objects singly for travel over the label box, delivery means arranged at one end of the runway and adapted to lower the movable objects singly therefrom into a suitable chute, connections between the said first and last-named means, mechanism slidable alternately into contact with one of the paste applying rollers and the uppermost label contained within the label box for applying paste to such label, trip means operating the last-named means and causing the rotation of the paste applying rollers, a follower plate arranged within the label box, means operated by the lastnamed means for feeding the follower plate upwardly within the label box, label holding devices engageable with the uppermost label contained within the label box, trip devices connected with the label holding devices for releasing the same when the trip devices are engaged by the movable objects traveling in the runway, and pressure sealing mechanism arranged above the runway at the delivery end thereof and operated by the lowering of the delivery means.

7. In a labeling machine, a runway, a

able alternately into contact with one of the paste applying rollers and the uppermost label, contained within the label box for applying paste to such label, trip means operating the last-named means and causing the rotation of the paste applying rollers, a follower plate arranged within the label box, means operated by the last-named means for feeding the follower plate upwardly within the label box, label holding devices engageable with the uppermost label contained within the label box, trip devices connected withthe label holding devices for releasing the same when the trip devices are engaged by the movable objects traveling in the runway, pressure sealing mechanism arranged above the runway at the delivery end thereof and operated by the lowering of the delivery means, and an automatically operated dumping cradle arranged at the delivery end of the runway and adapted for communication with the delivery means.

8. In a labeling machine, a runway, a label holding box fixed in the runway, paste reservoirs detachably supported in the runway at opposite sides of the said box, paste applying rollers arranged within the reservoirs, means for controlling movable objects upon the runway for automatically releasing the objects singly for travel over the label box, delivery means arranged at one end of the runway and adapted to lower the movable objects singly therefrom into a suitable chute, connections between the said first and last-named means, mechanism slidable alternately into contact with one of the paste applying rollers and the uppermost label contained within the label box for applying paste to such label, trip means operating the last-named means and causing the rotation of the paste applying rollers, a follower plate arranged within the label box, means operated by the last-named means for feeding the follower plate upwardly within the label box, label holding devices engageable with the uppermost label contained within the label box, trip devices connected with the label holding devices for releasing the same when the trip devices are engaged by the movable objects traveling in the runway, pressure sealing mechanism arranged above the runway at the delivery end thereof and operated by the lowering of the delivery means, an automatically operated dumping cradle arranged at the delivery end of the runway and adapted for communication with the delivery means, and weighted arrester means arranged within the runway spaced from the cradle.

9. In a labeling machine, a runway, a label holding box fixed in the runway, paste reservoirs detachably supported in the runway at opposite sides of the said box, paste applying rollers arranged within the reservoirs, means for controlling movable objects upon the runway for automatically releasing the objects singly for travel over the label box, delivery means arranged at one end of the runway and adapted to lower the movable objects singly therefrom into a suitable chute, connections between the said first and last-named means, mechanism slidable alternately into contact with one of the paste applying rollers and the uppermost label contained within the label box for applying paste to such label, trip means operating the last-named means and causing the rotation of the paste applying rollers, a follower plate arranged within the label box, means operated by the last-named means for feed ing the follower plate upwardly within the label box, label holding devices engageable with the uppermost label contained within the label box, trip devices connected with the label holding devices for releasing the same when the trip devices are engaged by the movable objects traveling in the runway, pressure sealing mechanism arranged above the runway at the delivery end thereof and operated by the lowering of the delivery means, an automatically operated dumping cradle arranged at the delivery end of the runway and adapted for con'm'lunicatimi with the delivery means, weighted arrester means arranged within the runway spaced from the cradle, and means for adjusting the bed of the runway at the delivery end thereof.

In testimony whereof I afiix my si nature in presence of two witnesses.

GUSTAVUS E. KASTENGREN.

WVitnesses C. P. BAUDIN, O. S. FULTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

